Everything that we do at CAIR Washington comes out of values that we all share. We are unwavering and undaunted in our quest to create a culture where everyone is valued and respected regardless of their faith.

CAIR Washington is, first and foremost, concerned with justice. At our core, we are a civil rights organization that fights for Muslims in Washington state who have been discriminated against, harassed, or attacked because they are Muslim. Our sense of justice guides everything we do. Justice means we believe that everyone - regardless of their faith, race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity - deserves fair and equal treatment.

CAIR Washington is an organization founded by-and-for Muslims in our state. Our shared identity and experiences as Muslims are an integral part of our organizational identity. As Muslims, we are called to prioritize and value justice. The Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam, considers justice to be a supreme virtue.

Although CAIR Washington was founded by-and-for Muslims, our community is as diverse as the nation we live in. America is home to one of the most diverse Muslim populations in the world. Approximately one third of our community is African-American, one third is of south Asian descent, one quarter is of Arab descent, and the rest are from all over the world, including a growing Latino Muslim population. In Washington, our community is comprised of Somalis, Arabs, Indians, Pakistanis, Indonesians, Iraqis, African Americans, and others. Our community at CAIR Washington is not just ethnically diverse; it is religiously diverse. Approximately one-third of our staff and an estimated quarter of our supporters do not identify as Muslim. Diversity isn’t just a value at CAIR Washington, it’s who we are.

CAIR Washington exists because we believe that we can make change. We know that change is often incremental and that progress demands vigilance. We believe in the power of people coming together and fighting for what’s right because we’ve seen it work from direct experience. Whether it’s passing statewide reforms on hate-crimes legislation, successfully lobbying our legislators to pass religious accommodations for college students, or rallying thousands of Washingtonians to challenge the Muslim Ban, we’ve seen what can happen when we take action. The moral arc of the universe is long, and we believe, as Martin Luther King Jr. did, that it “bends toward justice.”

CAIR Washington is an action-focused organization. This means that we are always looking for proactive ways to fight Islamophobia and bigotry in our state. We don’t just talk-the-talk, we walk-the-walk with things like Muslim Ban rallies, lobbying our elected officials to take hate crimes seriously, and calling on our supporters to show up in solidarity when other groups are attacked. We know that when we take action, we send a message that hate will not be tolerated in our state and encourage others to do the same.

CAIR Washington believes deeply in the power of community. We know that if it wasn’t for our supporters, dedicated staff, volunteers, community partners, and allies, our work would not be possible. It is the thousands of regular, everyday people who believe in the work we do and take action on our behalf that make the difference. People power is the most fundamental power.

CAIR Washington seeks to be thoughtful and intentional in everything we do. Whether we’re talking to the press or setting our legislative agenda, we carefully consider the work we do and the positions we take. Before making a decision, we pause to ask ourselves two questions: “will this move our community forward?” and “does this align with our values as an organization?”. We won’t always get it right, but we will make room for growth and change and bring thoughtfulness to everything we do.